A history making address amid an epic tragedy
He won’t be the first world leader to speak to both the House and Senate when he speaks virtually today. It could be the most important speech made before congress by a world leader ever. It's what the kids might describe as a "mega zoom call." This morning the nation and the world will watch.
Who is this man?
The Players:
The Brave
Before becoming Ukraine’s president, he had been a comedic actor whose best-known role was as a teacher who rose to Ukraine’s presidency thanks to a viral video. He is the son of an engineer and computer-science professor. He is Jewish, in a country with a brutal history of antisemitism, and his first language was Russian, as is the case for many Ukrainians. He ran for president in 2019, via a populist campaign. Since his country was invaded, he rose to the occasion, rallying his people and vowing to remain in the nation's capital, where he may die for his country.
What does he want?
Everything the US is willing to give, including what the Biden administration says it won't give. He does have bipartisan support in congress for most of what he wants, but not warplanes or the no-fly zone.
The Bold
One of the world leaders who is sure to be watching is the man who was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and studied law at Leningrad State University. The same man who once worked as a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years, (mostly in East Germany) rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel, before resigning in 1991 to begin a political career in Saint Petersburg. The same man now prepared to raze every city in the Ukraine for the highest stakes of his political career.
The Timid
Last and least is the old man who found a way into the White House. The feeble old man responsible for all the great crisis facing the US. He is easily, some say correctly perceived as weak and has been very clear about what he can't do and slow to do what he felt he could do. Without him this grand tragedy may have never have taken place.
In the Ukraine civilians, women and children are being killed. Three million people have already fled. The young nation's cities are under siege and are being bombed relentlessly. The world has been inspired by the courage of the Ukrainians. A month ago Germany wouldn't help, then it's leader made a dramatic turn around in defiance of that nation's post WWII policy. The EU stepped up on sanctions. Poland is taking in many of the refugees and has offered it's warplanes. It is in the US interest to see Russia bogged down in the Ukraine, but how much longer can they resist. It is nuclear weapons that gave evil regimes acceptance and it is why the west stands by as it all plays out. That is the sad plot twist to this tale.
We can hope for a miracle, but we know better.
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British Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke to Congress on December 26, 1941 — weeks after the U.S. entered WWII, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He too had once stood alone. In that speech Churchill warned the US of what it would be like: "many disappointments and unpleasant surprises await us."
"The Bold"
@!@ ... a fool that rushed in where angels feared to tread. [removed]
I'm waiting for these people to blame Biden for the weather.
Let's just hold him to what he did for now.
why not, we blame everything else on climate change ROFL
Sen. Braun says U.S. must continue to help UKR repel the Russian invaders, while adding: "United States and NATO military leaders must be reminded to take every precaution to avoid escalations that will result in war with Russia and American soldiers being put in harm’s way.”
They do?
Reacting to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Congress, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy called on the Biden Administration to provide Ukraine with the "armament they need" to continue to "fight a war that they did not create" against the Russian army.
"I thought the video was one of the most moving moments in there," McCarthy said during a news conference after the speech, referring to footage of the war that was played during the address. "It made the case of the murdering of innocent people. War crimes are being committed. America and the world cannot sit by and ignore it. We need to put a stop to this."
McCarthy called for "greater presser" and "greater armament."
The California Republican questioned why MiG-29 jets were not provided to Ukraine weeks ago as lawmakers had requested. He said the delay has put Ukraine at a "disadvantage."
McCarthy also said Ukraine can "create a no-fly zone" if the U.S. provides Ukraine with MiG-29 jets.
House Republican Whip Steve Scalise described Zelenskyy's address as "incredibly powerful."
"People got to see once again what we've been seeing for weeks and that is just why President Zelenskyy is inspiring the people of Ukraine and people all around the world who are rallying around these incredibly strong, tough people during a brutally difficult invasion by Putin," he said.
In a social media post after the address, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote that "Congress and the country remain unwavering in our commitment to the people of Ukraine as they courageously defend democracy."
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Sen. Jim Risch said Zelenskyy is a "courageous leader who is truly grateful for what the United States has done to help Ukraine" so far.
"But I agree with him completely – we have to do more. Congress, and more specifically, the Senate, stands with the Ukrainians. Let’s send them airplanes, let’s send them air defense systems, and let’s do it faster," the Idaho Republican said.
"Today’s speech was clearly intended for an audience sitting in the White House, and I hope they were listening. The administration needs to step up and lead. The actions it has taken so far have been positive, but it has had to be shamed into action every step along the way. It is critical the administration stop foot-dragging and do more," he added.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who visited the border of the Ukraine recently, called for "additional sanctions" to economically isolate Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He also said the U.S. should transfer the MiG jets.
"The world has been inspired by President Zelenskyy," he said. "Putin must pay for the violence he is visiting upon the people of Ukraine."
Pence said the Obama administration provided "blankets and boxed meals" for Ukraine but "lethal aid" was provided during the Trump administration. He said the Biden Administration must continue to provide Ukraine with more "lethal aid."
Wordsmiths:
AFT President @rweingarten and @AFTEVPDeJesus stand with Ukraine .
Zelensky's last thought might just be "they were with me!"
The dumb bitches have the flag upside down
dumbasses
A flag is flown upside down when...
“dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”
Ha, seems we have some people that are ignorant of that fact.
yeah ok 🙄
Just because fox news blasts it does not take away what the true meaning is.
Apparently you didn’t bother to read the article.
If you don’t like that source, there are plenty more.
knock yourself out.
I don't care if it was a mistake or not. It fits the situation.
I am not getting my panties in a wad over something like that.
Dumb and well financed with total control of the public schools.
It seems like you went out of your way to make sense of it?
Yep
That is the US flag.
Show where it is any other flag, especially Ukraine.
Nope. The upside down flag is a true thing.
Fun with flags by Sheldon Cooper.
It's a nautical thing, traditional among the UK, USA and Australia
which are much more recognizable than say
Ireland and Italy which would be ignored...
Are you here to defend Weingarten?
Then you still have a ways to go because the leader of the Teacher's Union also misspelled Ukraine:
EXTREMELY IGNORANT. More like agnorant. So arrogant in their ignorance.
Well, as expected, silence from you concerning 6.1.11
I was not defending shit. I was showing what I showed.
That an upside down flag is a real thing.
I am sorry you all didn't know that and are all butthurt about it.
Stop trying to make it something other than it is.
Really? Your question is idiotic. So you think that US flag protocol could or would not be used in other circumstances.
Your response is idiotic.
These two bitches had the Ukraine flag upside down and were called on it.
Only the US flag code has the flag upside down during a crisis.
BTFW, Ender, if that is what you believe it to be, then why when another picture of the leaders of the same dumbass union all held the Ukraine flag upside down, and when THEY were called on it, the picture was republished with photo shop of the Ukraine flag turned the right direction?
[deleted]
My response was that there was a true code of flags being upside down.
Keep trying to read more into it. It doesn't make me look bad...
Did my initial response say anything else? No it did not.
So take your hidden meaning and made up scenarios along with your feigning being upset about something so stupid.
There is no "feigning " or "hidden meaning" of anything.
You tried to defend their stupidity by saying maybe they turned the flag upside down because of crisis in Ukraine, but when you are called on it, you call others idiotic.
I asked you to show other countries' flag code to show to fly the flag upside down is a sign of crisis.
You can't do that.
Show me where I defended them. You cannot.
So stop making up scenarios.
What difference does it make if not all countries do it? None at all.
I can still use an upside down flag as some sort of example and symbol.
And MOST people would know what it means.
You are grasping at straws for some gotcha moment that is never going to come.
6.1.2, 6.1.5 and 6.1.7....
For starters.
You lost
I'm done
Again, reading shit that is not there.
It is I that is done. Welcome to ignore.
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., reacted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Congress , saying the Biden administration is "failing to lead" and must provide Ukraine with the planes and weaponry necessary to defend itself against Russia.
Zelenskyy, in an address to Congress Wednesday, pleaded with the United States to "do more" by implementing a no-fly zone, providing additional aircraft and air defense systems, and creating a new security alliance.
Hawley spoke with Fox News Digital immediately following Zelenskyy's address, calling it "very powerful" and accusing the Biden administration of "dragging their feet" and failing to take immediate action on some of the Ukrainian president's demands.
When Churchill addressed Congress, we knew what we were fighting for. What are we fighting for in Ukraine?
Civilians, women, and children have been dying in Ukraine since 2014. 14,000 have been killed during the eight year war in Donbas. The people whose homes are in Donbas are terrorists because they are pro-Russian. Volodymyr Zelensky has told us so and it must be gospel truth. The Ukrainian government is still fighting the war in Donbas in the midst of an invasion.
Soviets are fighting Soviets. The Soviets are killing each other. Let them. We don't need to be involved in this fight.
The way I like to put it is Putin is killing people who look so much like him.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia started when the USSR was created. Joseph Stalin held the USSR together by killing millions of Soviets.
What does the United States hope to accomplish in Ukraine? Ukraine is not going to force the Russians out of Ukraine. Ukraine is not going to defeat Russia no matter how much military aid is provided by the United States. If Ukraine could defeat Russia they would have done so during the Soviet era.
How did Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and Chernenko deal with political instability in the USSR? Boris Yeltsin is responsible for what happened during the Chechen war during the period of Glasnost. Hard liners have controlled the USSR and Russia from the beginning. Vladimir Putin is another hard line leader that follows the examples of his predecessors. Putin is doing what has been done by the USSR and Russia since the 1917 revolution.
Why does anyone believe that removing Putin would end the hard line government in the Kremlin? Everything indicates that Putin softening his position would only result in Putin be removed and replaced by another hard liner. Look at what happened to Gorbachev. The end of communist activity and communist control of the Russian government in 1991 did not soften Russia's hard line government. Boris Yeltsin was forced to make concessions to hard line Russian nationalists (who happened to be neoliberals and not conservatives).
Is Putin a Communist? Or a Nationalist?
Vladimir Putin is a hard line nationalist. The long list of US brands curtailing operation inside Russia does not align with communism. And it's not really that important whether or not Putin is communist.
Russia is still divided over the decommunization efforts begun by Boris Yeltsin. Communist parties are back but their influence has changed considerably in Russian politics. Hard line nationalism has emerged as a unifying doctrine during the political conflicts surrounding decommunization.
The war in Donbas is an outgrowth of the Ukrainian politics of decommunization. Viktor Yanukovch was a pro-Russian Ukrainian nationalist. Volodymyr Zelensky is a pro-European Ukrainian nationalist. Volodymyr Zelenski has been using nationalist rhetoric to unify Ukraine against Russia. Zelensky has declared pro-Russian sentiment in eastern Ukraine a terrorist threat against national unity. Zelensky's political rhetoric isn't that different from Vladimir Putin's. Zelensky has also been using nationalist rhetoric to seek support from Europe and the United States.
Zelenski isn't talking about democracy or democratic values; Zelensky's message has been about national sovereignty. Zelensky's 'Ukraine for Ukrainians' political rhetoric isn't that different than Putin's 'Russia for Russians' political rhetoric.
And we've seen how effective nationalist appeals have been in Europe and the United States. The US, NATO, and Europe are falling all over themselves supporting Zelensky's Ukraine for Ukrainians politics.
Putin is the storm
and Ukraine is Europe's storm door.
Millions of ethnic Caucasians of different religions killing each other because
Putin believes in the archaic writings of Ivan Ilyin's pre-WWll Chistian rantings
against the Bolsheviks. Ilyan believes in the ascendancy of Mother Russia
as an entity where people are just the cells of an organism wielded by a God like
strongman that will "restore" Russia to her rightful place as the world's only
leader.
Putin reads Ilyan like the Pope reads the Bible.
He believes.
He's evil scum just like his admirers.
MONEY.
Is the US puppet master relying on another long term war to pay down a $30 trillion (and growing) national debt?
Will enough of the world align with China and establish a new global currency in order to end the US dollar financing endless war and making the world pay for it?
I don't know how US citizens, who play the stock market, feel about relying on war profits to subsidize their lifestyles or if they even know how much their stock profits rely on endless war.
From 2009....
and
Anyone thinking the world is united enough to establish a global currency is off their meds.
Does it have to be the world or just the largest economies?
China is worried about having their wealth depending on the solvency of the US dollar and openly called for a new world currency in 2009.
Is it inconceivable that the major economies of the world are concerned after the gambling on the US stock market brought the world to its knees in 2008?
The US Dollar is the global standard and it pisses off China. They might be worried the US will stop importing their cheap crap OR start more manufacturing in the US. US consumers are largely responsible of the huge rise in the Chinese middle class.
It wasn't the JUST the US stock market that contracted in 2008. These markets are designed to bubble and bust. No matter what argument you think you have - China and the US (the 2 largest economies) don't like each other and are competing economic entities. They are NOT going to agree to a universal monetary system.
Since Biden is constantly telling Putin what he won't do it will cement Biden's legacy as "Biden the impotent".
If you peek outside this far rightwing bubble you will see that disparaging President Biden, The Leader of the Free World who happens to currently be winning high marks for uniting NATO and pretty much everyone except China and North Korea against Vlad Putin's madness, is really not playing very well out in Peoria!
is held in such high regard some world leaders won't take his call and a few democrats say they are too busy to be seen with him when he visits their state. Joe was better thought of when he stayed in his basement.
Putin-- the "leader of the free world"?
Because its Putin who gets the credit for the recent uniting of NATO-- not any American politicians (or for that matter American business).